CEO and founders

Carla and Tom Gill are based between the UK and Uganda. From the inception of East African Playgrounds in 2009, they have been committed to giving children in Uganda their childhoods, by providing them with high quality play experiences. They developed East African Playgrounds' programme to have a wide-reaching impact on children and on Uganda as a whole. Carla comes from a childhood development background and Tom has wide-ranging experience in both social policy and building.

Read the full story of how East African Playgrounds was founded by Tom and Carla on the 'Our Story' page.

Carla Gill

East African Playgrounds is proof to me that if you apply pure grit, determination and some good advice along the way, you can achieve more than anyone will believe.

Ever since I was a teenager, I worked or volunteered with children to make sure they had their space to play, whether it was as a playworker supporting disabled children at a play scheme, or organising activities at my local Brownie and Guide group. This theme continued through University where I was able to run adventure residential weekends away for disadvantaged children. When I met Tom and he shared his idea for building playgrounds in East Africa, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of and that I could contribute to.

East African Playgrounds has been a wonderful journey of discovery, of trials and tribulations and a continual learning curve. Although we have come far, there is so much more to achieve to ensure all children have access to play across East Africa.

Tom Gill

Back in 2009 when East African Playgrounds was in its concept stage I never thought we would construct more than a few playgrounds, run hundreds of educational play programmes and given so many disadvantaged young adults here in Uganda the chance to change their lives and their futures. Some people thought we were crazy when we chose to start a charity whilst still at University. We left behind a career path of graduate jobs in London to work part-time in bars, as a bin man and taxi driver to enable us to pursue the adventure that was and is East African Playgrounds.

Years later and that crazy choice has led to so much more than any of us could ever have thought possible. Working with the Uganda Ministry of Education, the Prime Minister’s office, UNICEF, PLAN International, War Child Holland, World Vision and many more global NGO’s we have been able to change the lives of children living in refugee settlements across Uganda. It makes all the early morning bin collecting and late nights taxi driving worth it!

We have been extremely lucky to have such a fantastic team in the UK and in Uganda who are the people who have made East African Playgrounds what it is today, and who are going to help take East African Playgrounds even further in the future.

Please select a donation amount: *

£25£25 could provide a small herd of toy animals for the children to play on

£100£100 could fund one-month educational play programme

£250£250 could give the children the best climbing frame they (or you) have ever seen

Most read

The Gorilla Trek is the ultimate African adventure allowing you to explore, discover and develop the incredible country of Uganda. As an ethical, affordable trip, it’s what you need to have the summer of a lifetime.
Apply now! Don't miss out on your place

East African Playgrounds is a UK registered charity and international NGO, focused on East Africa, primarily Uganda. Children need to play to access their childhood, allowing them to gain all the developmental benefits that play has to offer giving them the tools for future success.

This incredible volunteering experience is just a fraction of the cost of most. Just because it is low cost does not mean it is low quality. We are able to provide our volunteering project at a reasonable price because we don't know have large overheads or work with third party providers who need to make profit. We aim to be transparent and accountable with where the money we receive goes.

It’s all about experiencing a new culture whilst giving children their childhoods through play. Weekdays volunteering at a school building a playground and weekends exploring the amazing activities on offer in Uganda. What's not to love!

I believe that every child deserves an opportunity to play, be active and have fun with their friends in a safe and friendly environment, and therefore I am taking part in the Gorilla Trek during August 2018!

To make sure you are bursting full of ideas and plans for your fundraising we have provided you with every resource you could possibly need. Have a read through all the documents below to make your fundraising is a breeze.

Uganda Volunteer Project is all about experiencing a new culture whilst giving children their childhoods through play. Weekdays volunteering at a school building a playground and weekends exploring the amazing activities on offer in Uganda. What's not to love!
Apply now! Don't miss out on your place.

Hi, my name is Megan and I will be volunteering with Eastern African Playgrounds in Uganda in the summer of 2018! In many communities across eastern Africa there is an absence of facilities in schools due to poverty and lack of funding. EAP aim to give the children of Uganda the opportunity to develop their creativity and improve their cognitive, social and emotional skills by building playgrounds for the children to engage in educational play. EAP have been installing these playgrounds througho